Oil-can indicator.



O. SOURLOCK. OIL CAN INDICATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1910.

CHARLEfi SCURIJOCK, OF-PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

OIL-CAN INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

Application filed March 25, 1910. Serial No. 551,568.

which may be readily applied tolarge oil cans, and my invention consists of the novel features herein shown, described and claimed.

In,the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of an oil can indicator in use, embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 1s a vertical section on the lines 22 of Figs. 1 and 3. Fi 3 is a vertical section on the lines 3-3 0 Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a view analogous to Fig. 1 and showing the opening on the top of the can ready to receive the oil can indicator.

Referring to the drawings in detail my oil can indicator is intended especially to be used in the fifty or one hundred gallon cans I kept by retail dealers for carrying a stock of coal oil and the like.

flat sheet metal top 1 and when it is desired to place one of'my oil indicators in osition for use a circular opening 2 is forme in the sheet metal top 1 by the use of a can opener or similar means, said opening being large enough to receive the operating parts of the indicator. The cap plate 3 is large enough to cover the o ening 2 and a sight opening 4 is formed in t. e center of the cap plate.

A section of window glass 5 is mounted in a slideway 6 under the cap plate 3 in position to close the sight opening 4, and an indicator finger 7 extends from one side of the opening above the glass plate 5. Clamping p ates 8 and 9 are placed in parallel positions upon opposite sides of the sight opening 4, and screws 10 and 11 are inserted through the cap plate 3 and screw seated in the clam ing plates. Hanger arms 12 and 13 exten downwardly from the cap plate 3 upon opposite sides of the sight opening 4.

and a grooved roller 14 is mounted on the hanger arms in vertical alinement with the sight opening.

A graduated steel tape 15 runs over the roller 14 and has a weight 16 upon one end These cans have aand a float 17 upon the other end, the Weight and float being in such a relation to each other that when there is no liquid in the can the float will overbalance the weight, and go to the bottom of the can, and when ere is liquid in the can the float will ride 1 on the liquid and the weight will sink. Graduations 18 are formed upon the face of the tape 15 z ero being-located near the end attached to the wei ht 16 and the highest number being locate near the end attached to the float 17 so that when the weight is u and the float down zero willappear throng the sight opening 4, and when li uid is placed in the can the float will rise an the graduations will show the quantity of liquid in thecan. The device is applied to a can by inserting the weight 16, the float 17, and the roller 14, through the opening 2 in the can and manipulating corresponding ends of the clamping plates 8 and 9 under the edge of the can, the screws 10 and 11 being loose and the cap plate 3 being shoved over far enough to allow the" other ends of the clamping plates to pass down through the opening and then the cars plate is backed up to a central position an the screws 10 and 11 tightened, thereby securely closing the opening 2 and holding the indicator mechanism in place.

I desire to call especial attention to the construction whereby the indicator mechanism is entirely housed within the can and is applied to the can from the outside without other mani nilations of the can than is necessary to ma e the opening 2.

I claim:

1. An oil can indicator com risingha cap plate, clamping plates carrie by t e cap plate so that the clamping? plates may be inserted through an opening in a can and clamped'in position from the outside, the cap plate having a sight 0 ening therethrough, means forming a gui eway a graduated tape running in said guideway by said sight opening, a float upon one end of the tape and a weight upon the other end of the tape.

2. An oil can indicator comprising a cap plate having a sightopening, a glass car- .ried by the cap plate en'd'overing the sight said sight opening, a float upon one end of opening, clumpingplates carried by the cap the graduated tape, and a Weight upon theplate and adapted to be inserted through other end of the tape.

an opening in a can and clamped in posi- CHARLES SCURLOCK. tion-from the outside, a roller below the Witnesses: sight opening and forming a guideway, 21. IDA M. DASKAM,

graduated tape running upon said roller by (l. J. WILLIAMS. 

